The mass killing near Santa Barbara , California , has prompted a proposal to create a `` gun violence restraining order '' that would temporarily bar a mentally unstable person from buying and possessing firearms after family , partners or friends call police .

State Assemblyman Das Williams , a Democrat from Santa Barbara , said Wednesday that the legislation is designed to prevent mass killings similar to last weekend 's rampage that left seven people dead , including the suspected killer , in Isla Vista , the off-campus student community for the University of California at Santa Barbara and the local community college .

The proposed law would create a system where family members , friends and intimate partners could call police to intervene with troubled loved ones . Law enforcement would be able to investigate threats and ask a judge to issue an order prohibiting firearms purchases and possession , according to Williams and state Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner -LRB- D-Berkeley -RRB- , who both announced the legislation .

Williams acknowledged that gun rights advocates are certain to challenge the proposal , but he contended the legislation would balance rights because a mentally unstable person would be entitled to a court hearing to overturn the order .

`` If I was in Congress , I would be much more daunted about getting this passed , '' Williams told CNN . `` I think here in California , people have determined that enough is enough . We 're sick and tired of people dying in mass killings .

`` It is not intrusive if the judge still has discretion over the matter at the end of the day , '' Williams said of the proposed law . `` And we believe that in this case -- I 'm not omniscient , I ca n't tell you for sure that the tragedy would have been avoided -- but what 's unique about this case is that the mother and father knew there was going to be a problem , and at this point , in current law , there 's no way for them to do something about it . ''

Williams was apparently referring to how a mental health agency had been concerned about Elliot Rodger , 22 , the suspected killer in the weekend killings . The agency consulted one of Rodger 's relatives and then called police to check on his welfare in April . Police visited Rodger but took no further action . On Friday , Rodger apparently killed himself after allegedly stabbing to death three people in his apartment and fatally shooting two women outside a sorority and a man inside a deli in Isla Vista .

The legislators say there is no mechanism to limit firearm access in most cases involving an individual in crisis while that person is in mental health therapy , substance abuse treatment or anger management , the legislators say .

Currently in California , family members may call police to intervene , but `` if no crime has been committed , or the individual does not meet the criteria for an involuntary civil commitment to mental health treatment , there is essentially nothing that can be done to prevent that individual from purchasing firearms or to temporarily remove firearms from their possession during the crisis , '' the legislators said in a statement .

CNN legal analyst Mel Robbins , a former public defender , echoed that current state law does n't provide an intervention process for such scenarios .

`` There 's no mechanism for the police or for the public or for a mental health professional to basically say , ` we need to take a look at this individual , ' just like we might yank somebody 's driver 's license for acting recklessly , '' Robbins said .

The legislation has a chance of being approved in California , Robbins said .

`` California has some of the toughest gun control laws in the country , '' Robbins said .

@highlight

Lawmakers seek a state law for families to keep guns away from troubled loved ones

@highlight

The mass killing near Santa Barbara leads two California legislators to draft law

@highlight

`` We 're sick and tired of people dying in mass killings , '' Santa Barbara legislator says

@highlight

California has some of toughest gun control laws in country , analyst says